Passport Photo Size by Country: 2026 Dimensions Table

Passport photo size is not universal. A photo that works for a US passport can be rejected by India Passport Seva, and a Canadian passport photo is taller than both. This guide gives you the practical size chart first, then explains the mistakes that cause most rejections.

Passport photo size chart

Country / document	Print size	Digital size	Head size / face coverage	Background
United States passport	2×2 in (51×51 mm)	No exact online pixel dimensions published; upload the original and crop in the official application	1-1⅜ in (25-35 mm), about 50-69% of frame	Plain white or off-white
India passport, Passport Seva upload	35×45 mm for many printed packets	630×810 px JPEG for Passport Seva digital upload	80-85% of frame height	Plain white
India visa / e-Visa	2×2 in (51×51 mm)	Square JPEG, at least 350×350 px; portal limits vary by visa type	80-85% of frame height	Plain white
India OCI card	2×2 in (51×51 mm)	Square JPEG, at least 350×350 px; keep file within portal limits	80-85% of frame height	Plain light cream / light background
United Kingdom passport	35×45 mm	At least 600 px wide and 750 px tall, 50 KB to 10 MB	Head and shoulders visible; HMPO crops during application	Plain light-coloured background
Canada passport	50×70 mm	Printed professional photo required for passport applications	31-36 mm from chin to crown	Plain white or light-coloured
Australia passport	35-40 mm wide × 45-50 mm high	Portal-specific for digital workflows; print spec is the controlling rule	32-36 mm from chin to crown	Plain white or light grey

Why one passport photo cannot be reused everywhere

The common mistake is treating passport photos as a generic “small face photo.” The actual crop geometry differs by country. A US passport photo is a square 2×2 inch image with the head filling roughly half to two-thirds of the frame. India Passport Seva uses a narrow 7:9 rectangle at exactly 630×810 pixels, with much larger face coverage. Canada uses a 50×70mm print, which is taller than the US square. UK photos are 35×45mm, but the digital upload workflow expects an uncropped image large enough for HMPO's online crop.

These differences matter because government portals check both file-level rules and biometric composition. A stretched or resized file can have the right pixel count while still failing face-size, background, or distortion checks.

Country notes

United States

US paper passport applications use one 2×2 inch photo, with the head measuring 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to crown. For online renewal, submit the original unedited digital photo and use the crop inside the official application. The State Department's current digital-photo page does not publish an exact pixel range. Use the US passport photo requirements guide for the full current rules.

India Passport Seva

The Passport Seva digital upload is the strictest format on this list: 630×810 pixels, JPEG, white background, and high face coverage. Do not upload a 2×2 inch square photo to Passport Seva. If you are applying through VFS or BLS abroad, you may also need printed photos, and those packet requirements can differ by mission. Read the Indian passport photo requirements guide before preparing both files.

UK passport

For a UK digital application, GOV.UK says the image must be clear, in colour, unaltered, at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and within the accepted file-size range. If you take the photo yourself during the application, GOV.UK tells applicants not to crop it manually because the application flow handles the crop.

Canada passport

Canada's passport photo process is print-first: two identical unaltered photos, 50×70mm, taken by a commercial photographer or studio. The face height must be 31-36mm from chin to crown. Canada also explicitly rejects altered photos, including edits made with filters, photo software, or AI tools.

Australia passport

Australia gives a print-size range rather than a single fixed crop: 35-40mm wide and 45-50mm high, with face height around 32-36mm. Check the Australian Passport Office guidance before printing, especially if you are preparing a photo outside Australia or combining Australian and Indian document applications.

Fast way to check your file before submitting

Use the free passport photo checker to review supported file properties before uploading to a government portal. For U.S. passports, it gives pass/fail results only for file type and file size; dimensions and aspect ratio are informational warnings, and visual compliance is not assessed. Paid preparation is available only for supported document routes shown in the passport photo maker.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common passport photo size?

The most common retail size is 2×2 inches, because that is the US passport format and many stores default to it. It is not universal. India Passport Seva, UK, Canada, and Australia use different dimensions.

What pixel size should a digital passport photo be?

It depends on the country and application portal. The State Department currently publishes no exact pixel dimensions for U.S. online renewal and tells applicants to upload the original photo for cropping inside the application. India Passport Seva requires exactly 630×810 pixels. GOV.UK requires at least 600×750 pixels for digital photos. Always match the portal you are applying through.

Can I resize a rejected photo to the right dimensions?

Only if the original photo already has correct lighting, face position, background, expression, and sharpness. Resizing cannot fix a head that is too close to the camera, a shadowed background, glasses, or a digitally altered image.

Should I use millimetres or pixels?

Use millimetres for printed photos and pixels for digital upload files. A government portal cares about the file's pixel dimensions; a passport office or photo counter cares about the physical printed size.

Last updated: July 2026. Requirements should be checked against the official government source for your exact country and application channel before submitting.